Power-transmitting mechanism



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 8 1927.

L. MELANOWSKI POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1919 v L. MELANOWSKI POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANI SM Fi led July 24. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 Ina/enjoy. 7, 1/ I I I 1 6 7 19a M wuxdvz/ 1,617, 1927 MELANOWSKI 265 POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1919 5 Sheets-Shet 5 fzzuezziol' Feb. 8, 1927. 1,617,265

1.. MELANOW SKI POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1919 s Shee ts-Sh eet 4 Feb. 8 1927. 1,617,265

L. MELANOWSKI POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig 15 Zezz/ezziaz' I I transmitting mechanismemboclying my ini x 1,511,265 a ITZNT Ernie :01 CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION "OF 'OHTQ.

rownn-rnANsMrrrme MECHANISM.

:Ap'plication fi'led July 124, 1919. Serial no. 313, .002.

I This invention relates to power transmitting mechanisms for motor vehicles.

One object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple mechanism of this character capable of insuring; proper speed reductions in driving either relatively heavy orlight vehicles. w

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved power transmitting mechanism the elements .ofn'hich are strong, durable, compactly arranged and lend themselves to easy manufacture, assembly. .disassembly and adjustment.

. Another object of. he invention is to provide an improved I and relatively simple driving mechanism in which friction .losses and strains and stresses upon the driving elements and supports therefor are minimized.

Another objeot'of the invention is to provide improved supporting means for the brake operating rodor rods, whereby the accompanying drawings.

For the Qurpose of illustration, 1 have in the accompanying drawings shown and herein described one form of mechanism embodying my invention.

' In the drawings,

Fig. 1' is a vertical section pf. a' power vention, taken on the line lal of Fig; 3. 1 5 'Fig. 2 is a horizontal -s'ecti-on .on the line fa-2 assi ns.-. I

Fig. 5.

I Fig. *3 is a section. on the line .or

Fig.1." Y a "Fig. 4 is 'afldetail View of the rotatable member.

' Fig. 5 is an end-view of the rotatable I member.

Fig. 6 isa section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a detail View looking atone bit the bearings.

Figs. 8, 9. 10 and 11 are detail views of the bearing, adgustmg and locking elements. Fig. 12 s a transverse sectional View through'one of thetubular membersshovv- 7 means.

. WithscreW threads fora purpqse be {later set faith;

Fig. 13 is; a section-en the line 13-43 of Fig. '14 is a set-ion enthe line lt elkof Fig. 12. i .7 I

i-g. 15,.i-s a detail-view of a sprin-gseat and brake rod bearing bracket.

In the drawings-"1 indicates-a housing formed in any desired mannenlou't of a sizeandshape :to enclose the mechanism here? matter described. )From its opposite sides extend tubular members 2, each enclosing a driven shaft or axle-section 3. -1 have rembodied my invention in What is known-as a live a-Xle type'ofesconstruetion. for illus trative purposes;'-notwithstanding :these ,i'l-

'lustraitions, -vv-hich show the preferred em-- bod ment of my invention, it will be :under:

stood that my invention "may 'he -applied to or in other forms or types of axle construction. The side Walls 1 :of the. housing 1 are provided with tubular extensions .1 which receive and support the. inner ends of the tubular members Theiextensions 1 may be forined integrally ivithwthe side Wallsv 1* of the housing. Art 4=, thefwal:ls 1, are formed with annular recesses, which surronn'd't'he inner ends zorf thee-xgtensions,

receive the outer race; of an anti-friction "bearing 5, 'preiierably' of the ztapered rdller type. Above and preferably in :the vertical plane cutting the zaxesoi the extensions 17% the side allsil are formedsvvith openings 7 Lno'ME'LAnon/tsm, or CLEVELAND, cnro, ssrsnon some nnion "i nns'r c mmiw,

l the inner walls of wvhi'c'haareprovided 6 "indicates a pair, of-Hspu'r gears; sections Each gear is fixed to the adjacent axle. section in anyfvvell lmown' nenner; ibut i-tpreferably =abuts against theinner 9 indicates a :cover. for

.mounted on the innerend of one of the -axle ,1

.95 race of the bearing J5gand may be heldin such position by a nut r a theOpening Qp-IieZE- erably formed in'thetop oi the houslngl. V

The opening *8 is. large yenoughto permit ieo assembly, disassembly and adjustmentp ot V the power transmitting elements, including a differential :m'echanism, 'indicated "as an entirety at 10.

.Of the diflerential'inechanismirdflll ina:

cates .a shaft and housing element rotatably its "mounted at its opposite ends :and adapted i to form the support for thetli' main orfl ringgear 12, (2) differential pinions '1'3, (I3) I diiferentia'l gears ll and (4*) 'spe'ed "reducing pinions 15, which mesh; with and drive the I gears 6.- To permit adjustment of the shaft and housing element 11, in the manner here inafter to be setforth, and maintain at all times operative engagement of the pinions '15 with the gears 6. the former are prefer ably made somewhat wider than said gearsis flanged, as shown at 17 to form a supporting surface to which the main gear 12 is secured, preferably by suitable bolts and nuts 12?. The ring 16 is formed with 'a plurality of openings 16*" in which the nuts 12 are received, as shown in Fig. 1. As a result" of this construction, the flange 17 can extend equal distances to either side of the ring 16 as shown. thus (1) reducing the outside diameter of the flange and (2) permitting the use of arelatively small sized ring gear 12, which insures strength and economy in production. I

18 indicates an opening formed in and preferably extending'through the body portion '11 in a 'direction'which intersects the, .axis ofthe element 11, but preferably at right angles to the webs 16. The opening 18 receives and supports a shaft or shafts 19 on which are loosely mounted the differene tial pinions'13. The opposite ends of the shaft 19 are preferably mounted in openings 20 formed'in' the ring 16 (see .Figs. 1, a, 5 p and 6). portion '11 and adjacent inner surface of The opposite sides of the body the ring 16 are preferably provided with flat bearing surfaces which are properly spaced to receive the pinions'l between them and prevent movement thereof end wise of the shaft 19 (see'Figs. 5"and 6). The shaft 19 is preferably made in one piece fixed in one or moreof the openingslS, 20,

in any'desired manners Inthefor'mof construct on shown, I provide a resilient ring 19 wh ch surrounds the ring .16 and extends across the opposite ends of the shaft 19.- (preferably intersecting the longitudinal axis of the shaft), thus preventing it from moving endwise in either direction. To maintain the ring 19 in properl. operative position at all times, I prefer to formin the ring 16 an annular groove l9iin which the resilient ring fits. The'opposite ends of the resilient ring 19 are disconnected from each other to permit its ready assembly and re{ moval. By removing the resilient ring 19, the shaft19 and pinions 13' can be disassenr bled; 20, 20, indicate shaft members extending laterallyrfro m the opposite ends of the body portion 11 and mounted attheir free endsin bearings 21, 21,. each mounted in one of the openings 1*. The side walls 1 of the casing or housing are provided vith collars 21 surroundingthe openings 1 to afford ample supportingsurfaces not only for the bearings 21 but also for suitable adjusting means (indicated as an entirety at 22) therefor. The bearings 21 are preferably of the tapered roller type and arranged to take thrusts endwise of the element 11- in either direction. The body portion 11 webs 16, ring 16*, flange 17and shaft members 20 shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

23 indicates a sleeve rotatively mounted on each shaft member 20 and preferably formed integral with the adjacent gear 1% and pinion 15 toprovide a unitarygear ele ment between the adjacent differential pinion 18 and driven gear 6. V This form of construction is relatively simple and insures durability and strength as well'as maximum efiiciency in the transmission ofpower to the gears 6. The body portion 11 may be made somewhatlarger than the shaft members 20 to form shoulders 2 0 against which the inner ends of the sleeves 23 or inner faces of the pinions 14L abut. To prevent movementof the sleeves 23 endwise of the shaft members 20 outwardly, the free ends of are preferably formed integral,

loo

outer surface of the shaft member 20 and serves as anabutment for the, outer end of the adjacent sleeve 28." This form of con struction at the outer'endof each shaft member 20 also provides a seat for themher race of the adjacent bearing 21.. As shown in the drawings, the bushings-Q21 fit against the shoulders 2( and'the bearings 21 co-act with these shoulders to support the shaft and housing element 11; accordingly, whenever adjustment of the bearings 21, either or'both,-is found necessary, suclradjustment acts, "through the bushings 2 1;, against the shoulders 2O and-does not affect the. gear elements mounted on the shaft members 20. 7 As thebushings 2% engage the shoulders 20, it will be seen that adjustment of the bearings 21 cannot move the bushings endwise of'the shaft members 20, and therefore the distance .between the shoulders 20 and flanges 24 will always remain the same and insure free rotation of the gear elements at all times.

25 indicates a propeller pinion shaft the forward end of which is'adapted to be'connected in any well known Way to a driving element, such for example the propeller shaft (not shoWn)'of the vehicle. The rear l of the shaft in both directions. -The outer end of thetubular member 1 is'preferably the gear 12. The shaft 25 extends through a tubular member 1. the inner Walls of which are provided with suitable seats '27 to receive the outer races of bearings 28. The bearings 28 may be .of the tapered roller typefiand arranged to take thrusts endwise closed by an annular .cap 29 to keep out dust and other foreign matters. v

Of the adjusting means 22 at each end of the. element 11, 22 indicates an adjusting element fitting Within each opening 1 and having screw "threadedconnection with the inner. walls of the opening l or the collar surroundmg it. The'inner face of the ad justing element 22 is hollowed out to form an annular flange 22" which engages with the outer race of the adjacent bearing 21 to position it. By turmng the element -22-'in the proper direction; the outer race'ofthe 21 may be adjusted to the proper position.v 22.indicates .a projecting member extending outwardly tram the outer face of the adjusting element 22*. 22 indicates a lock member form-ed with an opening into and through which the projecting member 22"" extends. 22 indicates an opening formed in the adjusting element 22%. 22 indicatesa series of openings formed the outer [end of the collar surrounding the opening 1. 22?, 22 indicatesa pair of pins extending inward-lyf-rom the inner face of the locking member 22. One pin. 22 is adapted to extend into the opening 22 .7

made for locking the element 22 in any one of many posit-ionsof ad ustment, The

projecting member 22 may serve as an axle about whichthe locking member 22 may be rotated to position its 'piirs'in registeringposition with the openings-22? and 2.2 after the element 22 has been adjusted; I prefer to provide means for holding the locking,

member .in its operative position. For this purpose I provide the projecting member 22 with screw, threads and mount thereon a nut 22 which, when screwedup. will clamp the locking member in position again-st the end wall of the collar.

The adjusting devices 22 for the supnort bearings 21 at the opposite ends or the supporting element 11 may be properly adjusted to prevent all endwise .mo'veinent thereof and at the same time position the gear, 12in proper operative relation to the By forming. the end wall of the ad I which jacent collar with a plura hty of openings 22, it will be' uigiderstood that provision is p pinion 26. In assembling these elemental preferto. adjust the bearing '21 at the left sideof Fig.1 to correlate the gear 12 with the pinion 26, and thereafter adjust theopposite bearing '21 to rotatably support the elem entll. 1

30 indicates a portion of a wheel preferably fixed' to'theouter end of one of the axle sections 3 (only one wheel being shown). .It will be understood that the outer end of .the other axle section 3 carries :a simil-arwheel and that associated there- 'with are mechanisms, a spring and other elements similar to those now to be referred to. 31 indicatesa suitable braking mechanismyhaving braking shoes'32 adapted to. be operated by a rock shaft or rod 33 in a well known manner. 34 indicates a leaf in-111g adapted to he connected to-thevehiupper, block 37. The 'blockss37 and 38,1-are provided'with semi circular walls 37 3 8?,

which engage withand surround the tubular extension 2. The blocks 3:, 38are formed with suitable openings 37, 38. toreceyiye bolts 4:0...The bolts 4L0 pref-erably extend through the openings 38 and :into the openrings 37- hen so constructed the latter openings are provided with screw .threads (see Fig. .12) with which the threads onthe boltscngage. The upper block 07 may be The spring 34: may be secured in position by provided with a relatively large upper surq face which forms aseat for-,t-h-e spring 34.

one. ormore 'U-bolts .41, the opposite ends ,of

are screw- ;threadcd; and extend through suitable-'openings 42 formed in the block'37. 43 indicates nuts which engage the screw-threaded ends of the- U-boltsetl and through them clamp or secure the spring to the block 3'1 'lhehracket39is formed at its outer end. with anlopening through which the brake shoe operatin -g rod- 33 extends. Bypreference, the outer end of the bracket 39 is provided with a tubular mem 3.. so that-a. lo 9; hears her &4 (see 4 7 ing may'be provided forthe rod 45 indicatesvan annular plate arranged on the inner ,sideof the drum of the brake mechanism and adapted to support the free of the brake rod 33 and the inner ends of the brake shoes'in a Well known manner. "456 indicates a SlGQVB'EgUI'IOUlldl-IlQ the outer 7 end of the tubular extension 2 and provided with asflangeto which-the plate 4'5 is secured.

il -hen sleeve orlike element, such as shown art/46 is provided,;tl1e Walls 37*, 38*, are

shaped and -sized-acicordingly. the pres cut construction the sleeve 46 is advantageous, since it serves to strengthen the tubular extension 2 as well as to resist the strains due to clamping the supporting means 36to the axle housing members 2 Betweenthe plate and the flange of the i 7 end of the axle section 3 by any suitable means, that shown comprising a key or keys and a nut 51'. ll prefer to provide interlocking elements between the wheel and the bearing adjusting nut -49 so that when the wheel 30 is positioned on and secured to the axle section, it will at the same time lock the nut 49 against turning. For this purpose the outer face of the nut 49 is provided with a plurality of projectionsor teeth 52, uniformly spaced relative to each other, and the inner end of the wheel hub 30 is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced projections or teeth which fit in the spaces between the teeth 52 on the nut 49, when the wheel is positioned on the axle section'3, as shown in'l igs. 13 and 14, and lock the nut against turning Since,'in the 'preferred form of construction I provide a final speed reduction, comprising sp'ur gears, between the diiferent-ial mechanism 10 and the axle sections 8, no adjustment of the axle sections 3 will be necessary after assembly thereof between the bearings 5 and 48 has once been made. This construe tiontherefore' lends itself admirably to the maintaining of these elements assembled posit on.

7 a My lIIVGIltlOII has the advantage'of being and the shafts for the differential planetary V pinions 13 and shaft members rotatably supported at their outer ends and serving as axles forboth the differential gear and driving pinion at each side of the ring gear. This form of construction is advantageous in that it is capable of withstanding the strains and stresses incident to the driving of the vehicle and also maintain the gear elements in alignment and co-op erative relationship with the pinions 13 and gears 6, thus preventing undue friction there-between. It will be noted that for transmit ting the power from each diil'erential gear to each axle section 3, I employ only two gears, these by preference being speed reducing, spur gears, the. driving pinioniof which is integrally connected through a relatively short sleeve with the adjacent di'lferential gear. l rotatable member with which the support for the ring gear is connected, I am enabled 'after'its assembly, but one adjustment is required, this being between the propeller shaft pinion 26 and ring gear 12; As already set forth, this. adjustment is made through and by means of the bearings 21 which are readily-accessible without dismantling the mechanism or even removing the cover 9 for the housing .1.

Since the mechanism embodying my invention is relatively simple and the same may be housed in a comparatively small housing, it will. be seenrthat the unsprung By providing a singlev I am enabled. to provide a weight of the vehicle will be low as compared to most constructions of which I am aware. V v

To those sk lledin the art of making mechanism of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is: l

1. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of an integrally formed housing having pairs of aligned openings therethrough, the walls of one pair of which are integrally formed, aligned driven axle sections extending into said housing through one pair, of openings, anti-friction bearings for the inner ends of said axle sections mounted in bearings supported in the walls of one of said pair of openings, gear on the inner end of each, axle section, an element comprising a central body portion, a ring. radial webs and shaft members formed integrally, anti-friction bear ings supported in the integrally formed walls of said second pair ofaligned openings a driven mechanism comprising a shaft and supporting the outer ends of said shaft members, a ring gear secured to sald ring,

pinions carried by said element, driving 0011- gears loosely mounted on said shaft, differ-- ential pinions carried by said shaft and meshing with said differential gears and pinions driven by said differential gears and driven gears mounted in said housing and meshing with said last described pinions, said shaft and the earing mounted on and carried thereby being insertable into and withdrawable from said housing through said larger opening therein and the opposite ends of said shaft being mounted in said anti-friction hearings in operation.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a housing havingapair of aligned bearing receiving openings formed with integral walls and a larger opening in a plane transverse to the planes of said aligned openings, anti-friction bearings in each of said aligned openings, removable caps for each of said openings, those for said aligned openings carrying adjustable abutments for the adjacent anti-friction bearing, a power transmitting mechanism comprising a shaft, a ring gear rigidly secured thereto, differential gears loosely mounted thereon, differential pinions meshing with said differential'gears and pinions driven by said differential gears, and driven gears mounted in said housing and meshing with said last described'pinion, said shaft and the gearing mounted on and carried thereby being insertable into and withdraw- I able from said housing through said larger opening therein,"'and the opposite ends of said shaft being mounted in said anti-fric-' tion bearings and POSltlOIlGd within said housing by the adjustment of said bearing abutments. V

4. Inmechanism of the class described,

a power transmitting integrally formed element comprising a shaft, radially extending webs arranged substantially midway between the opposite ends of said shaft and; a ring supported concentrically to said shaft by said webs, said ring an'd sbaft having openings tOYIGCBIVQ a shaft for differential pinions and said ring havmg an annular groove in the plane of said last described shaft and a resilient locking ring in said groove.

' 5. In-mechanism of the class described, the combination of apower transmitting, integrally formed element comprising a shaft, radiall extending webs arranged sub stantially mic way between the opposite ends of said shaft and a ring supported concentrically to said shaft byisaid webs, said ring and shaft being formed with openings and said ring having an annular groove, stud shafts mounted in said openings, differential pinions mounted on said stud shafts, and means mounted in the annular groove formed in said ring forholding the stud shafts in the openings formed therefor. V 6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination 'ofaligned rotatable axle sections, each carrying at its rear end a spur gear, a rotatable member mounted pa ral-lel to said axle, sections, a differential pinion carrier carried by said rotatable member and differential pinions carried thereby, a driving gear for said rotatable member, gear elements, each comprising a differential gear meshing wit-h said differential pinions, a spur pinion meshing with one of said driven spurgears and rotatably mounted on said rotatable member, each of said spur piiiions being wider than the spur gear with which it meshes, and means for axially adjusting said rotatable member;

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEO MELANOWSKI. 

